Australia: Health & Safety

The essential podcast for employment lawyers, HR, industrial relations and safety professionals, exploring legal, regulatory and workplace issues shaping organisations through expert analysis and practical insights.

Recent reforms to NSW work health and safety legislation have fundamentally changed how businesses must manage psychosocial hazards in the workplace. With approved codes of practice now operating as mandatory standards from July 2026, organisations face heightened scrutiny over workload management, organisational change, and workplace culture.

NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers who experience traumatic incidents during their service may be entitled to workers compensation for psychological injuries including PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Recent NSW reforms have changed the claims landscape, making early medical evidence and proper documentation critical for successful claims.

Cooper Grace Ward's workers' compensation podcast examines the District Court case of Sneddon v Petts, where a workplace injury involving a brush cutter on a rural hobby farm raised critical questions about liability and evidence credibility. Special counsel Damien Jarrett and insurance claims adviser Catherine Dugdell dissect the complexities of assessing witness reliability and managing injury claims in unconventional work settings.

As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in Australian workplaces—allocating tasks, monitoring fatigue, and detecting hazards—businesses face critical questions about managing AI-related WHS risks and whether they may be legally required to implement AI systems to meet existing safety obligations.

In this special crossover episode of Inside Employment and Inside Safety, Steve Bell, Tony Wood and Lucy Boyd explore the increasingly complex regulatory landscape facing Australian employers and the growing scrutiny from workplace, safety and human rights regulators.

Workplace injuries can occur in any industry and may entitle you to workers compensation benefits. Understanding what qualifies as a workplace injury, the types of compensation available, and the critical steps to take immediately after an incident can protect your entitlements and support your recovery.

Victoria's proposed Equal Opportunity Amendment (Work from Home) Bill 2026 seeks to establish a statutory right for eligible employees to work from home two days per week, with employers required to cover reasonable costs and equipment. The legislation outlines specific exemptions, reasonableness factors for employer refusals, and a dispute resolution process through the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

Cooper Grace Ward's workers compensation podcast examines the landmark High Court case of CCIG Investments Pty Ltd v Schokman, exploring critical questions about vicarious liability and scope of employment arising from an unusual workplace incident on Daydream Island. Legal experts who appeared before the High Court discuss the case's implications for workers compensation law across Queensland and Australia.